Automatic flow control for flowable bulk materials



May 17, 1955 w. s. YosT 7 2,708,603

AUTOMATIC FLOW CONTROL FOR FLOWABLE BULK MATERIALS Filed March 31, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l- WILLIAM G. 708T INVENTORS HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

' WORREL 8 HERZ/G ATTORNEYS W. G. YOST May 17, 1955 AUTOMATIC FLOW CONTROL FOR FLOWABLE BULK MATERIALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 31, 1952 WILLIAM G. YOST I ATTORNEYS HUEB/VER, BEEHLER, WORREL HERZ/G A 7TORNEVS nited States Patent AUTDMATIC FLOW (JONTROL FOR FLOWABLE BULK MATERIALS William Grant Yost, Fresno, Califl, assignor to Producers Cotton Oil Company, a corporation of California Application March 31, 1952, Serial No. 279,705

3 Claims. (Cl. 302-49) The present invention relates to handling equipment for flowable bulk materials and more particularly to an automatic flow control apparatus having demonstrated advantages in cotton-gin operation and the like.

In modern cotton gin operation, it is the usual practice to deliver bulk cotton to the gin in large quantities borne in open top racks by trucks, trailers, or other available vehicles. Vacuum means is provided for the expeditious removal of the cotton from the racks and its delivery to the gin in a substantially continuous flow from the initiation of the unloading operation until its conclusion. Although the flow is continuous, the rate varies considerably due to variations in the density of the cotton in the rack being unloaded, variations in the quality of the cotton, and the manipulation of the vacuum means.

The vacuum means delivers the cotton to an accumulating chamber from which the cotton is metered in an accurately regulated rate to a drier or other cotton treating stage of the gin. It frequently occurs that the variations in rate of supply of cotton to the chamber causes excess accumulation resulting in interference with proper operation of the metering means and causing other difficulties to which reference is subsequently made herein in greater particularity. For example, conventional cotton gins are normally inoperable approximately 20% of their intended operating periods due to clogging in the accumulating chambers and metering means therefor. When such clogging occurs, a considerable period is required for corrective purposes. In a commercial gin equipped with an apparatus of the present invention, 1500 bales of cotton have been processed without a single instance of clogging.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved automatic flow control for flowable bulk materials.

Another object is to provide means adapted automatically to regulate the delivery rate of cotton to an accumulation chamber of the character described so as to obviate the disadvantages incident to the excessive accumulation of cotton therein.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described in the preceding paragraph that is conveniently installed in existing cotton gins as well as incorporated into newly constructed gins.

Further objects are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a device of the character and for the purposes set forth that is economical 'to construct, convenient to install, and thoroughly dependable in its operation.

vStill further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a cotton gin and a bulk cotton supplying vehicle illustrating vacuum means for unloading the vehicle, a separator for segregating cotton from an air stream directed through the vacuum means, an accumulation chamber, metervehicle for delivering a flexible portion 18 of canvas hose or ing means, and a drier, in which is shown a flow control apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged, foreshortened side elevation of the accumulation chamber showing a detecting means of the present invention mounted therein.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

4 is a further enlarged side elevation of a fragment of the accumulation chamber and detecting means mounted therein.

Fig. 5 is a somewhat enlarged section similar to the upper portion of Fig. 3 but showing the detecting means positioned by the excessive accumulation of cotton within the chamber.

Fig. 6 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary portion of the vacuum means showing a damper mounted therein having electromagnetic means connected thereto for automatic control of the rate of cotton delivery to the gin.

Pig. 7 is a schematic representation of a second form of the invention demonstrating its susceptibility to var ious embodiments.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings:

In Fig. l, a cotton trailer is indicated at 10 having a rack 11 supported thereon containing bulk cotton 12. The trailer simply illustrates a conventionally employed bulk cotton to cotton gins.

The portion of the cotton gin represented in Fig. l is seen to employ a suction conduit 15 having an intake end 16 and an opposite end 17. The conduit is usually formed of tubular sheet metal or the like and to accommodate manipulation of the intake end 16 provides the like adjacent to the intake eud.

An air pump or blower 29 is connected to the end 17 of the conduit and serves to draw a stream of air through the conduit upon motivation by an electric motor 21 or other source of motivating power at a rate suflicient to draw cotton 12 into the intake 16 from the trailer 10.

A separator is indicated generally at 24 positioned in the conduit 15 between opposite ends thereof and which serves to segregate cotton from the air stream bBfOlm the air stream passes through the pump 20. The sep' arator utilizes a housing 25 consisting of cylindrical upper and lower portions 26 and 27 respectively, joined in stacked relation and providing a rectangular opening 28 therebetween. The intake end of the conduit 1'5 is connected to the periphery of the upper cylindrical portion 26 by means of a delivery manifold 29 and the opposite portion of the conduit by a vacuum manifold 30.

A cylindrical perforated screening drum 33 is rotatably mounted centrically in the upper cylindrical portion 26, as at 34, and rotatably driven in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l by means not shown. The vacuum manifold 3th is extended radially inwardly of the cylindrical portion 26 and is loosely fitted to the periphery of the screening drum diametrically opposite to the delivery manifold.

A substantially cylindrical dofter 36 is mounted concentrically in the lower cylindrical portion 2'7, as at 37, providing a cylindrical mounting drum 38 and radially disposed dofifer elements 39. The dofier is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, and serves to remove cotton drawn against the perforate drum 33 by the pump 20 and to deliver the cotton downwardly for discharge through an opening 40 in the bottom of the lower cylindrical portion 27.

A substantially rectangular cotton accumulating chamber 43 is connected to the lower cylindrical portion 27 of the housing 25 and downwardly extended therefrom providing substantially vertical side walls 43. The chamber has a downwardly disposed outlet opening 44.

As evident in Fig. 3, a pair of elongated star wheels anoseos 46 are rotatably mounted in the outlet opening 44 of the chamber 42 in substantially horizontal position and in parallel spaced relation. The star wheels are driven, also by means not shown, in opposite directions so that their adjacent portions travel downwardly of the chamber 42. By regulating the speed at which the star wheels are driven, cotton 12 is metered downwardly from the chamber in a continuous flow of accurately regulated rate.

A baflle drum 48 interconnects the outlet opening 4d of the chamber 42 with a drier 49. Cotton metered by the star wheels 46 downwardly passes through the battle drum 48 and is dehydrated in the drier 49 by means ot heat supplied thereto. The bafiie drum shields the star wheels and the cotton 12 in the chamber 42 from the heat of the drier.

The structure described to this point is essentially conventional and well known in the art. The applicants provide a rectangular opening 52 in a side wall 43 of the chamber 42 in elevationally spaced relation to the star wheels 46. A detecting plate 53 is fitted to the opening 52 and pivotally mounted in pendant position in the opening as by a pintle 54 secured to the plate and journalled in co-axial sleeves 55 mounted on the chamber 42. To urge the plate pivotally inwardly of the chamber, into the downwardly and inwardly inclined position shown in Fig. 3, an arcuate rod 56 is outwardly extended from the plate concentrically of the pintle A weight 57 is mounted on the rod in adjustable outwardly spaced relation to the plate.

As most clearly shown in Figs. 2 to 5, a bracket 59 is mounted exteriorly on the chamber 42 and extended transversely into the opening 52. A switch 60 resiliently urged into open position is mounted on the bracket 59 and provides an operating button 63. engageable with the plate 53 when retracted into the opening 52, as shown in Fig. 5, to close the switch.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 6, a shaft 63 is journalled diametrically in the conduit intermediate the separator 24 and the pump 26. A fiat circular damper is fitted to the conduit and secured to the shaft for movement between a position transversely of the conduit in blocking relation to the air stream therethrough and a position shown in broken line in Fig. 6 longitudinally aligned with the conduit in which it is substantially inoperative. A bracket 66 is secured to the conduit 15 and mounts a solenoid 67 thereon adjacent the shaft 63. An arm 68 is radially extended from the shaft 63 and coupled to the solenoid by a link 69. A compression spring 70 is mounted on the solenoid and serves to urge the damper into inoperable position.

An electrical circuit indicated at 72 in Fig. l is adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy represented at 73 and interconnects the switch 60 and solenoid 67 in series.

Operation The operation and utility of the present invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. As conventionally operated, the pump is driven by the motor 21 to draw cotton 12 from the trailer 10 into the separator 24. The separator serves to deliver cotton to the accumulation chamber 42 from which the star wheels 46 deliver the cotton in accurately metered flow to the bafile drum 4? and drier 49.

When cotton 12 is delivered to the chamber 42 at a rate in excess of the metered flow of cotton from the chamber as regulated by the star wheels, cotton accumulates in the chamber, as shown in Fig. 3. As long as the upper limit of the cotton does not reach the detecting plate 53, the apparatus of the present invention does not operate but the plate is resiliently extended downwardly and inwardly of the chamber, in a position engageable with the cotton, under the urging of the weight 57.

When cotton accumulates in the chamber 42 above the lower edge of the detecting plate 53, the cotton piles against the plate and urges it into retracted position within the opening 52. Movement of the plate into rctracted position closes the switch 60 and energizes the solenoid 6"] which draws the damper 64 into a position transversely of the conduit 15. The plate is held in such position by the solenoid so as to block the air stream through the conduit 15 and to minimize the amount of cotton drawn from the trailer 19. As soon as the star wheels 46 have reduced the level of the cotton in the chamber 42 SllffiClllllY for the weight 57 to urge the plate 53 inwardly of the chamber, the switch 60 is opened and the compression spring returns the damper to inoperable position.

Second form in the second form of the subject invention shown in Fig. 7, the elements of the apparatus already discussed are given the same numbers, but these differences are noted:

A radius arm 75 is radially extended outwardly from the pintle A bell crank '76 is pivotally mounted upwardly of the arm 75 in approximately horizontal alignment with the shaft 63. The shaft is provided with a pinion 7'7 externally of the conduit 15. A push-pull link. '78 pivotally interconnects the arm '75 and one leg of the bell crank 76 and a second push-pull link 79 is pivotally connected to the opposite leg of the bell crank and provides a rack gear in mesh with the pinion 77.

The second form of the invention is entirely mechanical and operates in substantially the same manner as that described for the first form except that as the detecting plate 53 is reciprocally pivoted between downwardly and inwardly extended position and retracted position, the damper 64 is responsively moved between inoperative position and its transverse position through all intermediate stages of progression as may be determined by gradual movement of the detecting plate.

The apparatus of the present invention provides a conveniently installed, economically produced, and dependable means for automatically regulating cotton supply to the accumulation chamber 42 or any equivalent structure equipped with the present invention. By so regulating the delivery of cotton to the chamber, the applicants have obviated the well-known damages to the star wheels 46 and labor incident to the correction thereof as caused by compacting of cotton downwardly into the chamber. Further, the well-known damages to the doffer 36 and/ or the separator 24 are eliminated by assuring reduction of the rate of delivery of cotton to the chamber well in advance of any accumulation in the chamber sufficient to interfere with dofier or separator operation.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cotton gin having a suction line providing an inlet end and an opposite end, a pump connected to said outlet end of the suction line adapted to draw air and cotton theretoward in the suction line, a separator interposed between opposite ends of the suction line adapted to segregate cotton from the air stream in the suction line, a cotton chamber downwardly extended from the separator adapted gravitationally to receive cotton therefrom, the chamber having a side wall providing an opening therein through which air is admitted to the chamber, and a cotton metering device mounted in the chamher in downwardly spaced relation to the opening in the chamber; the combination of a plate pivotally mounted in a pendant position in the opening in the wall of the chamber for movement between a position pivoted inwardly into the chamber and a retracted position, means resiliently urging the plate into the chamber into the path of cotton from the separator, a damper mounted in the suction line intermediate the separator and the pump, electro-magnetic means connected in controlling relation to the damper, a switch mounted in a position engageable by the plate in retracted position, and an electric circuit including a source of electrical energy electrically connecting the switch in controlling relation to the solenoid.

2. In a cotton gin having a suction line provided with an inlet and an opposite outlet end, a pump connected to the outlet end adapted to draw air and cotton borne by the air through the suction line, a separator positioned in the suction line between the inlet and the pump adapted to segregate cotton from air drawn through the suc tion line, a cotton accumulating chamber connected to the separator and downwardly extended therefrom having a substantially vertical side wall provided with an opening therein through which air may pass for movement upwardly through the chamber and separator and therefrom through the suction line to the pump, a metering device mounted in the chamber in predetermined downwardly spaced relation to the opening in the side wall of the chamber, a plate fitted to the opening, means pivotally mounting the plate in pendant relation in the opening of the chamber for reciprocal movement between a position extended downwardly into the chamber and a retracted position fitted to the opening, a switch resiliently urged into open position mounted on the chamber and having a control extended into the opening engageable by the plate to close the switch when the plate is in retracted position, means resiliently urging the plate into the chamber, a damper mounted in the suction line intermediate the separator and the pump for movement between a position in blocking relation to the suction line and a releasing position, a solenoid connected to the damper, resilient means urging the damper into releasing position, and an electrical system connecting the switch and solenoid in series.

3. In a cotton handling apparatus having a suction line providing an inlet end adapted to admit air and cotton and an opposite outlet end adapted to emit air, an air pump having an intake connected to the outlet end of the suction line, a separator mounted in the suction line in spaced relation to the opposite ends thereof adapted to segregate cotton from the air stream of the suction line and gravitationally to drop the cotton therefrom while the air stream continues from the separator through the suction line toward the pump, a cotton accumulating chamber connected to the separator and downwardly extended therefrom for gravitational passage of cotton therethrough, said chamber having a substantially vertical side wall providing a laterally disposed opening, and a cotton metering device mounted in the chamber in downwardly spaced relation tothe separator and side wall opening adapted to meter cotton from the chamber, the pump not only serving to draw air and cotton therethrough from the inlet end of the suction line but also to draw air through the opening of the side wall of the chamber for upward passage through the chamber and separator to the suction line to buoy cotton descending in the chamber; the combination of a plate fitted to the opening in the side wall of the chamber having an upper edge pivotally connected to said side wall and a lower edge movable from a retracted position into which the plate tends gravitationally to return in alignment with the side wall on which it is mounted and a displaced position pivoted inwardly of the chamber into the path of descent of cotton therethrough to the metering means, means resiliently urging the plate into the chamber, a damper mounted in the suction line between the separator and the pump for movement between a position substantially longitudinally disposed in the suction line and a position transversely thereof, and means interconnecting the plate and the damper moving the damper toward its transverse position in response to movement of the plate into alignment with the side wall of the chamber in which it is mounted and moving the damper toward its longitudinally disposed position in response to movement of the plate into the chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,450,903 Newhouse Apr. 3, 1923 1,842,438 Wilkinson Ian. 26, 1932 1,935,843 Goebels Nov. 21, 1933 1,971,421 Mackenzie Aug. 28, 1934 2,024,469 Mitchell .1 Dec. 17, 1935 2,060,305 Hagler Nov. 10, 1936 2,221,741 Vogel-Jorge'nsen Nov. 12, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 326,803 Germany Oct. 2, 1920 

